HB 1238 amends New Hampshire law (RSA 265:4) to increase penalties for disobeying law enforcement officers. It reclassifies certain violations as class A misdemeanors (for offenses under subparagraphs I(a), (b), (d), (e), (f)) and upgrades penalties for violations involving motor vehicle accidents: a class B felony if serious injury occurs during pursuit (subparagraph I(c)), and a class A felony if injury or death results. This directly affects individuals who refuse to comply with officers during traffic stops or investigations, particularly when accidents happen while fleeing. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and was requested by the Department of Safety.
SB 620 increases license suspension periods for drivers who refuse alcohol testing and modifies penalties for aggravated driving while intoxicated (DWI). For a first refusal of testing, license suspension rises from 180 days to 12 months; for repeat offenders with prior DWI convictions or refusals, it increases from 2 to 3 years. The bill also adds new requirements for aggravated DWI convictions, including a mandatory 17-day jail sentence (suspensible), a substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and installation of an ignition interlock device. These changes directly affect drivers arrested for DWI who refuse testing or are convicted of aggravated DWI offenses. The policy focuses on stricter consequences for refusal and repeat offenses, with court discretion to suspend up to 6 months of license revocation if treatment requirements are met.
HB 1172 expands New Hampshire's definition of "sexual assault counselor" to explicitly include National Guard sexual assault prevention and response personnel, such as coordinators and victim advocates. This change grants these military and civilian staff the same confidentiality protections already provided to other sexual assault counselors under state law, based on military rules of evidence. The bill, requested by the Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services, amends RSA 173-C:1 to include these personnel in the existing legal framework for confidential communications. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, directly affecting National Guard staff who support sexual assault victims.
HB 1801 modifies four key areas of law enforcement practice. It requires the state to prove a detention was lawful after a plaintiff shows it was unlawful, with $100 hourly damages (adjusted annually) for wrongful detention. The bill revises drug forfeiture rules to specify which property (like vehicles, money, or real estate) can be seized and adds a lien on seized items. It also mandates new certification requirements for law enforcement officers and creates a violation-level offense for officers who knowingly provide false information in written reports. These changes directly affect individuals claiming unlawful detention, property owners in drug cases, and law enforcement officers.
HB 1454 makes it a crime to possess a firearm after a court orders you to surrender all firearms and ammunition you owned or controlled. For a first offense, this is a class A misdemeanor; repeat violations are class B felonies. The bill also specifies that violating this court order counts as a qualifying offense for bail denial if the original court order was a domestic violence protection order (under RSA 173-B) or if the person faces separate domestic violence charges. It directly affects individuals subject to such court orders, particularly in domestic violence cases. The law applies to all firearms and ammunition subject to the court’s surrender requirement.
HB 1670 defines "organized retail crime" as acting with others to steal merchandise from stores with intent to resell or redistribute it, or knowingly receiving stolen items. It creates new criminal penalties for leaders of such operations, classifying offenses as class A felonies if stolen merchandise totals $2,500 or more (with enhanced penalties at $10,000), and requires courts to order forfeiture of property used in the crime. Key mechanisms include aggregating thefts across multiple stores and counties over 180 days to meet value thresholds, and allowing prosecutions in any county where activity occurred. The bill directly targets individuals involved in coordinated retail theft rings, while preserving existing laws like RSA 629:3 for prosecution.
SB 555 creates "critical risk protection orders" to temporarily restrict access to firearms when someone poses an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others. It allows family members, household members, intimate partners, or law enforcement to petition a court for this order, requiring the respondent to surrender firearms and ammunition. The court can issue an emergency order without the respondent's immediate presence, followed by a hearing within 72 hours. This applies only to acute risk situations and excludes cases already covered under domestic violence laws (RSA 173-B or 633:3-a).
HB 1108 revises New Hampshire's criminal threatening law to clarify that individuals displaying a firearm or other lawful self-defense tool in response to specific threats (like potential serious injury, death, property damage, or unlawful intrusion) will not be considered to have committed criminal threatening. It applies directly to people using defensive measures against these defined threats. The key provision creates a legal exception for reasonable defensive actions, specifying that the response must be to conduct a reasonable person would view as likely to cause the listed harms. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, with no estimated state or local fiscal impact.
HB 1372 establishes a commission to study whether New Hampshire should reestablish a state psychiatric hospital for adults with severe mental illness. The commission - comprised of legislative members, health department representatives, and corrections officials - will examine current mental health resources, assess individuals cycling through jails or emergency rooms due to untreated conditions, and evaluate costs, staffing, and potential locations for a new facility. It will also review best practices from other states and gather input from mental health professionals and families. The commission must submit its findings and recommendations to state leaders by November 1, 2026. This bill does not fund or create a hospital but sets up a study to inform future decisions.
HB 1184 establishes clear rules for issuing no trespass orders (NTOs) on municipal and school properties in New Hampshire. It requires most NTOs to be approved by a unanimous vote of the governing body (e.g., city council or school board) at a public meeting, and mandates written orders including the reason, property location, duration (max 90 days), and the right to request a hearing. Individuals affected can challenge an NTO through a hearing and appeal to court within 30 days, while existing NTOs over 90 days automatically expire. The bill also limits extensions beyond 90 days to court-issued restraining orders, ensuring procedural safeguards for those subject to NTOs.
